Mai was planning on spending her summer at the beach with her best friend. At the last moment, her parents tell her she is going to Vietnam with her grandmother. Mai's grandfather has been missing since the Vietnam war, and her grandmother has yet toMai was planning on spending her summer at the beach with her best friend. At the last moment, her parents tell her she is going to Vietnam with her grandmother. Mai's grandfather has been missing since the Vietnam war, and her grandmother has yet to fully accept his death.

When Mai first gets there she hates everything about Vietnam-- the heat, the mosquitoes, the lack of internet connectivity. She seems like a spoiled American girl. It is fun to learn to love Veitnam as Mai does too....more

Chirp loves to bird watch. Living on Cape Cod next to a Marsh, she gets to do lots of it. Her family is faced with some huge challenged and a tragedy. How each member of Chirp's family deals with these events is very interesting to read about. Set inChirp loves to bird watch. Living on Cape Cod next to a Marsh, she gets to do lots of it. Her family is faced with some huge challenged and a tragedy. How each member of Chirp's family deals with these events is very interesting to read about. Set in the early 1970's, there are lots of references to songs and dances of that era, and even how much some things cost. I don't know if it will be a big hit with many young readers, but may have a niche group that would like it....more

Fascinating time travel book where a modern African American woman is transported back the antebellum South where she has no power and no freedom. Her life seems to be tied to one of her ancestors, who she repeatedly saves from death.

A great adult fantasty with a strong female protagonist who learns a lot about herself in the first book in this series. The Tearling was set up as a post-American Utopia, leaving behind all technology as has evolved into a medieval quagmire. The newA great adult fantasty with a strong female protagonist who learns a lot about herself in the first book in this series. The Tearling was set up as a post-American Utopia, leaving behind all technology as has evolved into a medieval quagmire. The new queen has been raised in isolation for her protection and her life is at risk each day.

While reading this, I did not want to do anything else. It's a great book to escape into....more

A strange book. Maybe a really quirky middle school student might enjoy this. It takes a while to get into this very complex story with strong Russian folkloric elements. Two girls accidentally exchange places and one gets to meet a prince at a ball.A strange book. Maybe a really quirky middle school student might enjoy this. It takes a while to get into this very complex story with strong Russian folkloric elements. Two girls accidentally exchange places and one gets to meet a prince at a ball. Baba Yaga and the firebird get involved. Baba Yaga's house is a really fun character in the story. I kept putting it down in places that should have been compelling....more

Amy and Matthew are about to start their senior year of high school. Both have some issues to make life difficult. Amy has pretty serious CP, so that she needs aides to help her get around school. She gets the idea to hire fellow students as her aideAmy and Matthew are about to start their senior year of high school. Both have some issues to make life difficult. Amy has pretty serious CP, so that she needs aides to help her get around school. She gets the idea to hire fellow students as her aides rather than adults. This helps her make friends for the first time in her life. She asks that Matthew be one of her aides. Matthew has some unacknowledged OCD issues that Amy helps him with. Both of them don't know how to tell the other about feelings they develop for each other.

While this was an interesting view into what it was like to be Chinese or Japanese at the beginning of WWII, it was difficult for me to relate to the three main characters. There were secrets upon secrets and no one was really who they pretended to bWhile this was an interesting view into what it was like to be Chinese or Japanese at the beginning of WWII, it was difficult for me to relate to the three main characters. There were secrets upon secrets and no one was really who they pretended to be....more

Lucky Linderman feels anything but lucky. His parents have stood by for years as he is tormented by a bully. Finally an incident causes his mother to rethink things and she and Lucky go to Arizona for a break.

I would classify this book as magic realLucky Linderman feels anything but lucky. His parents have stood by for years as he is tormented by a bully. Finally an incident causes his mother to rethink things and she and Lucky go to Arizona for a break.

I would classify this book as magic realism, as there are impossible things that occur, mainly linking dreams to reality....more

An group of nuns who work for death? Yep. Ismae is an initiate who is sent to court to see who is working against the duchess. She finds herself is a position of not knowing who to trust, including directives from the convent. Does she trust her hearAn group of nuns who work for death? Yep. Ismae is an initiate who is sent to court to see who is working against the duchess. She finds herself is a position of not knowing who to trust, including directives from the convent. Does she trust her heart over her god, or is there a way to do both?...more

Althea and Oliver have been best friends since they were six years old. Now it is the end of their junior year and Oliver keeps falling asleep for weeks at a time. He is dealing with his condition while Althea misses him dearly and makes some bad decAlthea and Oliver have been best friends since they were six years old. Now it is the end of their junior year and Oliver keeps falling asleep for weeks at a time. He is dealing with his condition while Althea misses him dearly and makes some bad decisions.

I would say this is for pretty mature adolescents- lots of drinking, parties, and sex....more

Met randomly, Fate brought us together, Through a friend, Through Goodreads
"Toni was a librarian at my elementary school. I met her before I went there because of my older brother james' attendace and my mom's love of helping out there. I now communicate with Toni via goodreads, though my family did go visit her in the summer (there is a picture of one of the turtles she was taking care of in my photos. you can access it via my profile). Anyway, that's my story, but let me say that it still feels really weird referring to her a Toni and not Ms.Valsing."